Michelin targets 80% environmental tire adhesives by 2025

Clermont-Ferrand, France – Michelin Group’s subsidiary ResiCare, which specialises in development and production of high-performance adhesives, has reached a milestone with a non-tire use for its products in the wood industry.

The company, in partnership with French plywood panel manufacturer Allin has developed ‘R’PLY’, a ‘responsible plywood’ which integrates ResiCare’s bio-resins with customary adhesives. 

The panels, developed over four years of collaboration, will be the first commercial non-tire application of the resins and will be available at certain DIY superstores ‘soon’, said Michelin in a recent statement.

Furthermore, in May 2021, ResiCare set up a mobile resin production unit on the Michelin tire manufacturing site in Olsztyn, Poland, to support the production of environmentally friendly tires, using the company's formaldehyde- and resorcinol-free adhesives.

Michelin said its ambition is to substitute, by 2025, more than 80% of its usual adhesive for use in tire textile reinforcement with ResiCare adhesives which are free from substances of very high concern for health (SVHC).
 
Based on the Olsztyn model, ResiCare intends to set up other compact production units over the coming months in Europe and Asia, and offer its textile reinforcement technology for all tire producers.

According to the ResiCare website, more than 80 000 Michelin tires have been manufactured with the new resin since 2018.

More than 40 patents have so far been deposited for ResiCare technology.